Fire disrupts voting in Malate, Manila

Fire broke out at a polling place in Malate, Manila on Monday morning, Election Day.

The electrical fire was reported at Aurora Elementary School, according to a report by Tuesday Niu on Super Radyo dzBB.

FLASH REPORT: Electrical fire, sumiklab sa voting center sa Aurora Elementary School sa Malate, Maynila; sunog, agad na na-control at maayos na ang sitwasyon, ayon sa BFP. | via @mamutuesdayniu pic.twitter.com/HparfbE9hq

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 9, 2022

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) was able to control the fire immediately, preventing its progress and spread.

However, voting was disrupted since vote counting machines (VCMs) had to be taken out of the building.

Voters who were in line also scampered.

The Manila BFP said the fire has already been put out.

Faulty wiring is suspected to be the cause of the fire which burned an orbital fan at Room 234 at 9:30 a.m., according to a report by GMA News reporter Nelson Canlas.

Voters were immediately evacuated and VCMs and ballots were secured.

Voting has already resumed at the auditorium as of past 11 a.m.

An electrician has already checked the wiring of the school to prevent similar incidents and further damage.

Meanwhile, a VCM at a polling precinct in this school operated only for two hours before it malfunctioned.

Ballots were then placed in a secured box and will be fed into a working VCM after voting ends at 7 p.m. —KG, GMA News